Time To Support The Tour Du Pont

December 18, 1990|The Morning Call

Time is running out for bicycling enthusiasts who would like to see what is now called the Tour du Pont return to the Lehigh Valley for the third year. Organizers of the race, which will take place in May, would like to have the race course set by the end of this month. That means areas that want to host a leg of the tour have just under two weeks to make a commitment.

So far there seems to be an interest at least among the mayors of the Lehigh Valley's three cities. Mayors Joe Daddona, Ken Smith and Sal Panto are willing to lend logistical support in the way of police supervision -- but not money.

Some of the organizers of the local leg of what was then the Tour de Trump are having problems lining up both leadership and corporate sponsors. They need someone with the enthusiasm and bonhomie that will get other corporate leaders to ante up donations. There's still a $40,000 debt to local hotels that fed and housed racing teams last year. Another $40,000 to $80,000 will be needed to sponsor this year's local leg, depending on whether it lasts one or two days.

The national organizers think they've overcome a number of the race's problems that might have kept sponsors away last year. First, troubled financier Donald Trump is no longer associated with the race. Second, the event has received professional status from the Federation Internationale de Cyclisme Professionale which means that top cyclists from around the world are more likely to compete. Third, the organizers are promising major network and ESPN television coverage, as well as broader international coverage.

Besides the publicity, the Lehigh Valley leg this year is likely to be the penultimate stage of the race which means it'll have greater significance for the next day's finale. It will be planned as a Saturday circuit race to increase crowds, encourage volunteer participation and lessen traffic problems.

So what's the problem with getting the Lehigh Valley on board for another year? Money and leadership. This shouldn't be. The area has a chance to lock itself into an event that is already one of the biggest international bicycling races and hopes, with du Pont's continued sponsorship, to rival the famous Tour de France. While each of the Valley's three major cities have their own individual community events, this would provide all three with one event to pull themselves together.

To do this, however, there has to be more than just token commitment from officials of the three municipalities. Certainly corporate sponsorship is critical to such an event and should be the dominant support, but Allentown, Bethlehem and Easton also benefit. Civic pride alone should encourage the mayors to dig up perhaps $10,000 each. It wouldn't hurt, too, if the Valley's Chambers of Commerce pulled together to drum up business support. This is an event the Lehigh Valley should try to keep. But time is running out.